North hangs with Patriots, but falters late

Panthers outscored 23-8 in final quarter

NEW MADISON — Tri-Village defeated visiting Tri-County North 56-33 in a girls high school basketball game on Thursday, Jan. 18.

The Patriots went back and forth in the first quarter with North and held a slim 1-point lead, 11-10.

Only two T-V players scored in the second quarter with Emma Printz leading the way with 8 points.

Printz hit a deep 3-pointer form the corner and then stole the ball for a layup to put the Pats up 16-10.

The other Patriot to score was Maddie Downing with 4 points. She hit an 8-foot jumper in the lane and then Printz another triple gave TV a 21-11 lead with 48 seconds to go.

Tri-County North sophomore Aubrey Stupp, who led all scorers on the night with 24 points, hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to bring the score to 23-14 at the break.

In the first three minutes of the third quarter Tri-Village wasn’t sharp executing its offense and struggled to score, prompting Coach Brad Gray to pull all five starters and put in a whole new second group.

Over the next four minutes the second group played with energy and fire and along the way got a 3-pointer from Kayla Burke and Madison Foreman and a bucket from Lauren Flory.

With 1:49 on the clock in the third quarter and the Patriots leading 31-25, the starters were put back in.

The Patriots ended the third period up 33-25.

In the final stanza, Tri-Village finally started to show how good it can be when it plays with a purpose and more confidence.

Trisa Porter scored all eight of her points in the quarter, and Printz, who had a breakout second quarter, scored nine points and 17 for the game as the Patriots pulled away with 23 points in the final frame to go on and claim the win.

North (6-8, 1-6 CCC) was scheduled to play Mississinawa Valley on Tuesday, Jan. 23 in a non-league contest and will host Ansonia on Thursday. The Panthers will also host Newton on Saturday.